Trump backs Hegseth after IG faults Signal use; job appears safe
The Pentagon inspector general found that Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth violated Department of Defense rules by using his personal Signal app to share sensitive, near‑real‑time operational details — including targets, timing and aircraft — tied to U.S. strikes against Houthi militants, conduct the IG said could have endangered U.S. personnel and the mission. The classified report was delivered to Congress with a redacted public version released Dec. 4; while the IG did not conclude Hegseth had improperly declassified the material and Pentagon spokespeople called the review a "total exoneration," President Trump publicly backed Hegseth and his job appears safe for now.
đź“Ś Key Facts
- The Pentagon inspector general, Steven Stebbins, delivered a classified report to Congress and a partially redacted public version was released on Dec. 4, 2025.
- The IG found Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth used his personal Signal app to share nonpublic CENTCOM/SECRET//NOFORN operational details about planned U.S. airstrikes on Houthi militants in Yemen, including targets, precise launch and bomb‑drop times and assets (F‑18s, MQ‑9s, Tomahawks).
- The report concludes those Signal messages, sent approximately 2–4 hours before the strikes, violated DoD policies and 'put U.S. personnel and their mission at risk' because interception by an adversary could have endangered service members or enabled countermeasures.
- The Signal chats included multiple groups and participants — reportedly a group with VP J.D. Vance, Secretary of State Marco Rubio and DNI Tulsi Gabbard, a 13‑person group that included Hegseth’s wife and brother, and a journalist (Jeffrey Goldberg) who was accidentally added and exposed the messages.
- Investigators say Hegseth declined an interview, provided only a written response, did not give direct access to his phone, and some messages had auto‑deleted settings; the IG could not determine conclusively whether the information had been declassified, though Hegseth asserted he had the authority to declassify and wrote that the information did not need classification.
- The IG reported the Signal messages 'closely tracked' timelines contained in a SECRET//NOFORN email from Gen. Michael 'Erik' Kurilla/CENTCOM, tying the sensitive details to that operational email.
- Pentagon spokespeople, including Sean Parnell, characterized the review as a 'TOTAL exoneration' saying no classified information was shared; President Trump publicly stood by Hegseth, and CBS reported Hegseth’s position appears safe for now.
- The report’s release coincided with classified briefings to congressional leaders and drew bipartisan attention and criticism — with top House and Senate intelligence Democrats calling the conduct reckless.
đź“Š Relevant Data
As of 2020, 88% of active-duty Air Force pilots are White, compared to 71% of overall active-duty airmen and approximately 60% of the U.S. population.
Here's the Air Force's plan to diversify its pilot corps — Air Force Times
In the Department of the Air Force, 17.8% of Black airmen score in the 90th percentile or higher on the AFQT, compared to 30.8% of White airmen.
Racial Disparities in the Department of the Air Force Military Justice System — RAND Corporation
As of recent data, 6.8% of Air Force pilots are Hispanic or Latino, compared to 15.6% of overall active-duty Air Force personnel and 18.9% of the U.S. population.
Air force pilot demographics and statistics in the US — Zippia
Service members cited lack of role models and lack of exposure to the pilot career field as reasons for less interest among Black applicants to become pilots.
Report of Inquiry (S8918P) - Independent Racial Disparity Review — U.S. Air Force
đź“Š Analysis & Commentary (3)
"The Playbook analysis critiques Pete Hegseth’s Signalgate conduct and links it to the Sept. 2 boat‑strike controversy, arguing the IG report and congressional briefings create serious operational and political problems for him — but notes the White House’s loyalty makes his near‑term removal unlikely despite long‑term vulnerability."
"A critical opinion piece that uses psychological framing (weaponized anger, malignant narcissism) to condemn Pete Hegseth’s Signal posts and the broader administration culture that tolerates reckless, attention‑seeking breaches of classified operational norms and calls for accountability."
"An opinion deep-dive arguing that the Pentagon IG’s rebuke of Defense Secretary Hegseth’s use of Signal illustrates how a privacy tool has been repurposed in ways that skirt institutional safeguards, posing operational risks and demanding clearer rules and accountability."
đź“° Sources (13)
- President Trump publicly says he stands by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth despite the IG’s 'SignalGate' findings.
- CBS reports Hegseth’s position appears safe for now despite scrutiny over the boat-strike campaign and messaging practices.
- IG found Hegseth’s Signal messages 'closely tracked' timelines contained in a SECRET//NOFORN operational email from CENTCOM.
- Hegseth monitored the Yemen strikes from a SCIF at his home with two aides and communicated via classified channels before posting what he described as an unclassified 'summary' to Signal.
- The secretary participated in additional Signal groups, including one labeled 'Defense Team Huddle,' used for tasking, internal discussions, and in at least one instance sharing similar operational information.
- Officials installed a tethering setup allowing Hegseth to view and operate his personal phone from inside his secure Pentagon suite while the device remained outside the classified space; the IG could not determine whether this configuration met security requirements.
- Pentagon’s chief spokesperson characterized the review as a 'TOTAL exoneration' and emphasized that no classified information was shared.
- Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell called the IG review a 'TOTAL exoneration' and said no classified information was shared, declaring the matter resolved.
- IG report language specifies Hegseth sent nonpublic DoD information identifying 'the quantity and strike times of manned U.S. aircraft' over an unapproved network 'approximately 2 to 4 hours before' the strikes.
- IG report ties the Signal messages to sequencing details for an upcoming strike on Houthis in Yemen, saying they could have enabled adversaries to counter U.S. forces or reposition assets.
- Hegseth declined an interview and did not provide direct access to his personal phone; the IG says some chat messages had auto‑deleted due to settings when extracted.
- Pentagon chief spokesperson Sean Parnell called the report a “TOTAL exoneration” and claimed it proves no classified information was shared.
- Hegseth told the IG in writing he determined the information did not need to be classified.
- The Pentagon Inspector General’s full report on Pete Hegseth’s use of Signal was publicly released on Dec. 4, 2025; PBS published the document.
- Top Democrats on the House and Senate intelligence committees (Rep. Jim Himes, Sen. Mark Warner) criticized the conduct as reckless, noting the report shows multiple instances of Signal used for official business.
- AP sourcing reiterated the IG’s finding that Hegseth endangered U.S. personnel by conveying sensitive strike information via Signal.
- The Defense Department inspector general’s partially redacted report on Hegseth’s use of Signal is expected to be released on Thursday, Dec. 4, per PBS/AP.
- The IG release is occurring the same day as Bradley’s classified briefings to congressional leaders.
- NPR reports the Signal group chat included journalist Jeffrey Goldberg of The Atlantic.
- According to NPR’s sources who reviewed the IG report, it concludes Hegseth violated Pentagon regulations by using a personal cellphone for official business.
- NPR specifies the messages included precise launch times for F‑18s, drones, and Tomahawk missiles, and notes the report does not state whether Hegseth actually declassified the information before sharing.
- PBS specifies the incident involved a Yemen operation against Houthi militants.
- Says a journalist was accidentally added to the Signal chat providing sensitive, real-time strike updates.
- Frames the risky conduct as tied to discussing an active strike earlier this year via Signal.
- IG identified as Steven Stebbins; report expected to be released as early as Thursday.
- Report says Hegseth shared targets, timing, and aircraft details to two Signal groups that included his wife and brother.
- Finding states interception by an adversary would have endangered U.S. servicemembers and the mission.
- Hegseth declined an interview with investigators, providing only a written response.
- Hegseth asserted he could declassify information; IG did not determine whether the material was declassified at the time of sharing but noted he had authority to do so.
- Context ties the chats to planning for U.S. airstrikes against Houthi rebels in Yemen, initially exposed after a journalist was added to the Signal chat.
- IG found Hegseth violated DoD policies by using his personal device and transmitting sensitive operational information in a Signal chat.
- The sensitive details Hegseth posted were derived from a SECRET//NOFORN email sent by Gen. Michael “Erik” Kurilla.
- Sources say the report concludes interception by a foreign adversary would have clearly endangered U.S. service members and the mission.
- The IG report, classified, was delivered to Congress on Tuesday; a public version is expected Thursday.
- Sources told CBS the report does not address whether Hegseth declassified the information before posting.
- IG concluded Hegseth’s use of Signal to share sensitive strike details 'put U.S. personnel and their mission at risk.'
- Report did not find improper declassification by Hegseth, per sources.
- Report has been delivered to lawmakers for classified review; a partially redacted public version is expected later this week.
- Hegseth shared exact launch and bomb-drop timings in at least two Signal chats before aircraft were airborne.
- Participants in one chat included VP JD Vance, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, and DNI Tulsi Gabbard; a separate 13-person chat included Hegseth’s wife and brother.
- Confirms the DoD IG’s classified report was provided to the Senate Armed Services Committee and says a redacted public version will be released Thursday.
- Identifies then–National Security Advisor Mike Waltz as the creator of the Signal chat and names The Atlantic’s editor-in-chief Jeffrey Goldberg as the journalist inadvertently added.
- Publishes specific time-stamped Signal messages attributed to Pete Hegseth detailing strike timing and assets (F-18s, MQ-9s, Tomahawks) and an 'OPSEC is clean' note.
- Reiterates the IG is reviewing classification and records retention compliance tied to the Signal chats.